Florida's dissolving coral reefs

Updated 9:59 PM ET, Sat June 11, 2016

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

Robert Carmichael, a diver with Project Baseline, reviews procedures with CNN correspondent Boris Sanchez while preparing to dive to the Hollywood Beach sewage outflow in the Nemo -- a Project Baseline submarine.

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

Diver Robert Carmichael preparing to dive to the Hollywood Beach sewage outflow, just one mile from shore, with CNN correspondent Boris Sanchez.

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

The Nemo submarine reaches the surface after an hour-long dive. Crews move quickly to reattach the submarine to a crane onboard the Baseline Explorer. When out in the sun, temperatures on the Nemo near 100 degrees.

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

The Baseline Explorer, one of Project Baseline's vessels, is harbored just outside Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. While coral bleaching due to warmer water brought on by climate change and the spread of viruses that can damage coral have played a role in the reefs decline, Robert Carmichael, a member of the the group, says some factors can be quickly and directly addressed, including nutrient loading from outflow pipes and dredging of the ports.

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

Project Baseline and a CNN team review safety procedures before diving more than 90 feet to reach the outflow. It takes roughly 25 minutes to reach that depth.

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

Project Baseline divers analyzing ocean life near the Hollywood Beach sewage outflow. Much of the ocean floor in this area is covered by invasive algae, which some experts believe has spread expansively in part because of nutrient loading.

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

The Hollywood Beach sewage outflow is roughly 5 feet in diameter and at one point pumped more than 47 million gallons of effluent a day. Officials with the city of Hollywood say they have reduced that rate in recent years, down to 12 million gallons a day. The outflow is slated to shut down in 2025.

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

A project baseline team dives more than 90 feet to inspect sea life around the Hollywood Beach sewage outflow.

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Photos:Florida's dissolving coral reefs

A diver with Project Baseline collects samples from Hollywood Beach sewage outflow, which pumps millions of gallons of effluent into the ocean every day.